Rendang Ayam Kampung, Ipoh, Malaysia

FAR EAST ORGANISATION SINGAPORE

Rem Koolhaas' stunning first building in Singapore is will be 153m high

Architect Rem Koolhaas’ Office for Metropolitan Architecture has revealed this design for its first building in Singapore.

The 36-storey residential tower will come in at 153m high and will be close to Orchard Road, Singapore’s famous shopping and leisure street.

The architect said the lifted towers reduce the building’s footprint to a minimum, leaving the ground level open for communal leisure activities.

The project, for client Far East Organisation, will cover 20,000 sq m and contain 68 apartments.

A BETTER TOMORROW FOR ALL JOHOREAN!!

Growing pains for a gem of a city


JOHOR BAHRU, MALAYSIA: ONE will find it hard not to notice that the journey becomes smoother when one drives into Singapore.

The reason is there is hardly any pothole in the republic. You also rarely see anyone repairing potholes there.

That is why I can't help but envy Singaporeans when it comes to their maintenance culture.


In Johor Baru, things are quite different. Driving around can be an adventure, especially along main roads such as the six-lane Jalan Skudai.

Potholes and uneven stretches are everywhere. Being quite a veteran driver here, I have learned to slow down at some stretches or veered to the left or right to avoid a pothole.

I guess those from outside the city need to learn the perils of driving here the hard way.

Now, with the extensive road upgrading works all over the city, because of the Iskandar Malaysia project, driving here is even more challenging.


One needs to plan one's route carefully before venturing out. Otherwise, you will get caught in a massive traffic jam or you will have to negotiate your way through bumpy alternative roads.


There are also lorries ferrying earth and sand which one needs to give way to. Well, who knows, a gravel may fall off from the lorry and hit one's car windscreen, or worse, one's head if one is riding a motorcycle.


Personally, I have been avoiding the junction connecting Jalan Ibrahim and the Inner Ring Road for some time now. The roadworks are too intimidating for me, with cranes everywhere hoisting steel beams and other heavy things.


I don't go through such anxiety when driving in Singapore. Road upgrading works or other projects are always done in properly walled-off areas.

As many here will agree, everything seems to be spick-and-span in Singapore compared with Johor Baru.

Having said that, it would be unfair not to highlight what Johor Baru has which Singaporeans find lacking on their island.


The first thing that springs to mind is the sense of adventure one can feel in Johor Baru. Singapore is too safe and "sterile" that even the trees at its well-manicured gardens look as if they are made of plastic.


Then again, one may argue that it's another plus point for the republic. After all, many would prefer to be safe than sorry.


This city is also a cheaper place to live in and to have fun. Just look at all those Singapore-registered cars parked at the hypermarkets and seafood restaurants here, especially during the weekends.


This brings me to my next point: the World Cup in South Africa next month.


It was recently announced that Singtel and Starhub, the republic's cable networks, are charging between S$70.64 (RM162) and S$94.16 for the total viewing package of the football extravaganza.


Despite Singaporeans being financially more well off, I can
imagine that many of their football fans will be adjusting their television antennas to get a better reception of our RTM1 and RTM2 which will be airing all the matches, live or delayed, for free.


Mamak restaurants in Johor Baru will probably be packed with ardent football fans from the republic till the wee hours.


Those in charge of tourism should come up with some packages to draw more football-crazy Singaporeans here next month.


Well, Johor Baru, warts and all, is not too bad compared with its affluent southern neighbour. The city has its redeeming qualities.




With the massive Iskandar Malaysia development corridor slowly taking shape, Johor Baru may be on par with or even better than Singapore or Kuala Lumpur one day. The way I see it, Johor Baru is like the middle sister who is struggling to establish herself and has not realised her true potential.


Once she discovers who she truly is, she will be better than her elder and younger sisters, which in this case are Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, respectively.


For now, she just needs to be patient and work hard for a better tomorrow.

Beef Rendang # 2 Or Spicy Beef Stew With Coconut

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pound boneless beef short ribs (cut into cubes)

5 tablespoons cooking oil

1 cinnamon stick (about 2-inch long)

3 cloves

3 star anise

3 cardamom pods

1 lemongrass (cut into 4-inch length and pounded)

1 cup thick coconut milk

1 cup water

2 teaspoons tamarind pulp (soaked in some warm water for the juice and discard the seeds )

6 kaffir lime leaves (very finely sliced)

6 tablespoons kerisik (toasted coconut)

1 tablespoon sugar/palm sugar or to taste

Salt to taste



Spice Paste:

5 shallots

1 inch galangal

3 lemongrass (white part only)

5 cloves garlic

1 inch ginger

10-12 dried chilies (soaked in warm water and seeded)

Method:

1.Chop the spice paste ingredients and then blend it in a food processor until fine.

2.Heat the oil in a stew pot, add the spice paste, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and cardamom and stir-fry them until aromatic.

3.Add the beef and the pounded lemongrass and stir for 1 minute.

4.Add the coconut milk, tamarind juice, water, and simmer on medium heat, stirring frequently until the meat is almost cooked.

5.Add the kaffir lime leaves, kerisik (toasted coconut), sugar/palm sugar, stirring to blend well with the meat.

6.Lower the heat to low, cover the lid, and simmer for 1 – 1 1/2 hours or until the meat is really tender and the gravy has dried up.

7.Add salt to taste. If not sweet enough, add more sugar to taste.

8.Serve immediately with steamed rice and save some for overnight.

BEEF RENDANG

Bahan-bahan

2 kati daging lembu atau lain-lain daging

3 sudu besar ketumbar

1 sudu besar jintan manis

2 tahil lada kering

10 ulas bawang merah

7 ulas bawang putih

sedikit kunyit dan halia

3 biji kelapa

2 sudu besar gula pasir

garam secukup rasa

Cara membuatnya

1) Potong daging besar-besar dan bersihkan.

2) Rebus daging hingga empuk (simpan air rebusan daging).

3) Kemudian siatkan daging tersebut halus-halus.

4) Parut kelapa - 1/4 bahagian di buat kerisik. Selebihnya di perah santannya dengan air rebusan daging tadi.

5) Giling semua bahan rempah sehingga halus.

6) Panaskan minyak dalam kuali dan tumis bahan rempah. Masukkan daging dan tuangkan santan dan biarkan mendidih. Kemudian masukan air asam jawa dan gula. Huraikan sedikit. Masak diatas api perlahan hingga kering.

BEEF SERUNDING

Bahan-bahan

600g daging batang pinang

40g kerisik

10g serbuk kunyit

4 helai daun limau purut

4 helai daun limau kunyit

1/2 L santan pekat

garam dan gula secukup rasa

sedikit minyak

Bahan kisar

150g bawang merah

100g bawang putih

50g halia

50g serai

50g lengkuas

50g cili padi

Cara Membuat

Masak bahan kisar bersama santan, kacau rata.

Masukkan daun limau purut dan daun kunyit.

Setelah naik bau, masukkan daging dan biar mendidih.

Kacau sekali sekala hingga empuk dan masukkan kerisik.

Rasa garam dan gulanya.

Perlahankan api dan masak hingga agak kering.

Hidangkan bersama nasi, lemang dan ketupat.

RENDANG PEDAS AYAM

Bahan-bahan

1 ayam, potong 16

3 sdb rempah rendang

6 sdb cili boh

1 sdb serbuk kunyit

2 biji bawang besar

2 batang serai

3 cm halia

3 cm lengkuas

5 - 10 biji cili padi

4 sdb kerisik

1 cawan santan pekat

3 helai daun limau purut

1 helai daun kunyit

1 batang kulit kayu manis

Bunga lawang

cengkih

air asam jawa

garam dan gula

Cara Membuat

1) Blender bawang besar, serai, halia, lengkuas, cili padi dan perapkan dengan ayam bersama cili boh dan rempah rendang selama sejam.

2) Masukkan ayam kedalam kuali besar dan campurkan lain-lain bahan kecuali santan, kerisik serta daun kunyit dan daun limau.

3) Masak atas api sederhana selama 20 minit atau sehingga air kering. Tambah sedikit air asam jawa.

4) Masukkan santan, kerisik dan lain-lain bahan

5) Rasa garam dan gula dan masak lagi selama 10 minit. sehingga rendang sedikit pekat.

BARLEY SOUP WITH ROASTED GARLIC

Barley is good for your Healing and cleansing.



High in fibre, barley is also a kidney cleanser. Better yet, regular intake of it helps prevent heart disease. BARLEY water was always a regular drink when we were still living at home. Whenever we had to go for a medical exam that included a urine test, my mum would make us drink barley water a day before it to make sure we got a positive result!

My mother was a wise woman. I later found out from an Australian

naturopath that barley is known to be a kidney cleanser, and he happily

downed glasses of it at a meal we had in a coffee-shop here.

Barley is good for your intestinal health too. Try to eat the barley

grains you find in your drink or sweet broth with fu chook (beancurd skin) and ginkgo nuts.

It's high in fibre which feeds the friendly bacteria in the colon and

helps speed up the transit of fecal matter in it. In this way it helps

prevent haemorrhoids and colon cancer.

The propionic acid and beta glucan from barley's insoluble fibre also help lower cholesterol and prevent the formation of gallstones.

Eating barley regularly is a preventive step against heart disease as, besides the fibre content, it is also high in niacin, a B vitamin good for

lowering cholesterol.

Diabetics should eat more barley as the fibre will prevent blood sugar levels from rising too high. It also provides relief from constipation or

diarrhoea for those suffering from Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Barley is rich in selenium which prevents cancer and relieves symptoms of asthma and arthritis. It is a good source of manganese, copper and phosphorous.

Malt sugar comes from sprouted barley which, when fermented, is an ingredient in beer and other alcoholic beverages.

Barley, whose Latin name is hordeum vulgare, has been cultivated for more than 10,000 years.

Since ancient times, barley has been used for healing purposes and has

been known to the Chinese, Egyptians, Greeks and Romans. Athletes in

Greece and Rome in those days were known to eat barley bread to give them strength.

Besides the usual things we do with barley, I enjoy having it in a western soup. The larger pearl barley is used and I love the sticky bite of it.

Here's a recipe for barley soup:



Barley soup with roasted garlic

1 cup pearl barley

5 cloves whole garlic, roasted

2 litres chicken stock, steeped from 1 chicken breast simmered in three litres water

2 tbsps vegetable oil

2 large onions, diced

2 carrots, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

150g turkey ham, cut up

1 tsp ground white pepper

1 tsps sea salt or to taste

1 tbsp chopped parsley

Method

1. Wash barley and soak it in a bowl of water for three hours. Drain.


2. Heat oil in pan and fry onions Add carrots and celery, then the barley and fry for three minutes.


3. Add chicken stock, pepper and roasted garlic and simmer over low heat for at least an hour, or until barley is soft.


4. Add salt to taste and serve the soup garnished with chopped parsley.

Happiness Keeps You Sweet

"The biggest enemy of success is the fear of failure.
So when fear knocks,send Faith to open the door.
Let success be yours forever"

ONE PARAGRAPH THAT EXPLAINS LIFE!

Arthur Ashe, the legendary Wimbledon player was dying of AIDS which he got due to infected blood he received during a heart surgery in 1983.

From world over, he received letters from his fans, one of which conveyed:

"Why does GOD have to select you for such a bad disease"?

To this Arthur Ashe replied:

"The world over -- 50 million children start playing tennis, 5 million learn to play tennis, 500,000 learn professional tennis, 50,000 come to the circuit, 5000 reach the grand slam, 50 reach Wimbledon, 4 to semi final, 2 to the finals, when I was holding a cup I never asked GOD 'Why me ?'.

And today in pain I should not be asking GOD 'Why me?' "

"Happiness keeps you Sweet,

Trials keep you Strong,

Sorrow keeps you Human,

Failure keeps you humble and Success keeps you glowing,

But only Faith & Attitude Keeps you going...

HAVE a Great Day…

Thought Of The Day!

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it!


“ Whatever feelings you have within you are attracting your tomorrow.

Worry attracts more worry

Debt attracts more debt

AND

Happiness attracts more happiness

Prosperity attracts more prosperity

Your job is an INSIDE one

To change your World, all you have to do is change

Just stop thinking of worries and ways

to get more debts

Think of happiness and ways to get more and more

prosperous financially, materially and spiritually!

It takes months to change an idea and adopt new ideas!!!

A young and successful executive was traveling down a neighborhood street,

going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar. He was

watching for kids darting out from between parked

cars and slowed down when he thought he saw

something. As his car passed, no children appeared.

Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!

He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to

the spot where the brick had been thrown. The angry

driver then jumped out of the

car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up

against a parked car shouting,

'What was that all about and who are you? Just what

the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that

brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why

did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic.

'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't

know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the

brick because no one else would stop...' With tears

dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth

pointed to a spot just around a parked car. 'It's my

brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell

out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him

up.'

Now sobbing, the boy asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help

me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and

he's too heavy for me.'

Moved beyond words, the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling

lump in his throat.. He hurriedly lifted the

handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took

out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh

scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything

was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless

you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too

shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy!

push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk

toward their home..



It was a long, slow walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very

noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair

the dented side door. He kept the dent there to

remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life

so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to

get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and

speaks to our hearts. Sometimes when we don't have

time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's

our choice to listen or not.



Thought for the Day:

If God had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.

If He had a wallet, your photo would be in it.

He sends you flowers every spring.

He sends you a sunrise every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about

you!

Send this to every 'beautiful person' you wish to bless.

God didn't promise days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun without rain,

but He did promise strength for the day, comfort for the tears, and light for the

way.

Read this line very slowly and let it sink in...

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Traditional Malay Desserts

MENCARI TUHAN DIDALAM SALJI

Mencari Tuhan DiDalam Salji


Saya tidak nampakdia jatuh,tetapi kinidia terduduk di atas saljidengan sebuah botol arak tergengam erat

di tangan kanannya.Saya terlanggar tanpa saya sedari.

"Maafkan saya,"kata saya sambil membongkok mahu menolongnya.

"Oh,tidak mengapa",katanya sambil berusaha bangun dari salji.Dia menyambut tangan bersarung yang saya

hulurkan kepadanya.

Ketika itu barangkali pukul enam petang.Saya dalam perjalanan pulang dari kuliah;dan saya berjalan cepat2 sambil

membongkok untuk melarikan muka dari deruan salji yang lebat turun menyerong pantas ditiup angin.

Ketika musim dingin begini,pukul lima petang sudah gelap.Dan dalam bergegas pulang dalam salji dalam

gelap itulah saya terlanggar orang tua itu.

"Maafkan saya",kata saya sekali lagi,sambil menariknya bangun.

"Barangkali salah saya juga",katanya.'Saya tidak nampak sausara",.

Ketika itulahsaya terbau arak dari nya.

Barangkali arak itu datang dari mulutnya,ataupun dari botol yang di pegangnya,ataupun kedua-duanya sekali.

Baunya bagaikan Wiski.

Lantas saya terfikir bahawa barangkali lelaki itu orang Red Indian,kerana di daerah ini kebanyakkan

pemabuk yang saya lihat ialah orang-orang Red Indian.Dan entah kenapa,selalunya saya berasa simpati terhadap para

pemabuk Red Indian.Saya rasa bagaikan mereka ingin merejamkan satu kekosongan dan kehampaan dan kehampaan

yang amat besar dengan bantuan arak.Entah betul,entah tidak sangkaan saya itu.Tetapi demikianlah perasaan saya selalunya.

Lelaki itu sudah berdiri tegak sekarang--sebenarnya dia berdiri agak membongkok macam saya juga,

kerana kami seolah-olah ingin melawan deruan salji dengan kebongkokan kami.

Lelaki itu tidaklah terlalu besar atau tinggi.Saya kira,barangkali dia sedikit tinggi dari saya.

Bila saya tenung mukanya,dengan kepalanya yang berserkup topi itu,nyata dia bukan orang Red Indian.

Dia seorang lelaki kulit putih--dan kalau di kampung saya,barangkali saya harus memanggilnya 'PAKCIK".

Umurnya barangkali50,barangkali 60,saya tidak dapat menduga dengan pasti kerana gayanya yang masih segak.

Angin bertiup dengan kencang dan bintik salji yang lebat menjunam-junam ke muka kami.

Orang tua itu tiba-tiba terhoyong.Dan saya menjangkau menangkap tangannya.Saya bimbang dia terjatuh kembali.

Saya pasti sekarang dia sedang mabuk.

Senja-senja bersalji begini orang tidak ramai lalu-lalang di situ.Kalau hari masih siang ramailah penuntut seperti saya simpang siur

pergi balik dari kuliah.Senja-senja bersalji begini kebanyakkan orang barangkali asyik menonton Tv di rumah

atau minum-minum di pekan kecil di simpang kampus.Dari tempat kami berdiri boleh nampak lampu-lampu bersinar di pekan kecil yang berhampiran.

Saya kasihankan orang tua itu;dan saya berasa bersalah kerana melanggarnya.Dan lagipun dia mabuk.

"Er,kemana tujuan saudara?"kata saya.Saya ingin memanggilnya 'PAKCIK' .Tetapi dalam bahasa inggeris tidak ada

istilah yang sesuai."Barangkali saya boleh menemani saudara ke tempat yang dituju".

"Oh tidak mengapa",katanya.saya tidak kemana -mana.Barangkali saya akan ke jalan washington.

Tapi itu tidak penting.Saya sedang MENCARI TUHAN katanya."

"Mencari Tuhan"?kata saya separuh terkejut.

"Barangkali saudara fikir saya mabuk'?katanya,sambil mula melangkah dalam salji yang tebal itu.

"Tidak",kata saya,sambil turut melangkah mengikutnya.Saya kini berpusing balik ke arah saya atang tadi.

Angin kencang menderukan salji ke elakang kami berdua.

"Saya mencari Tuhan", katanya lagi sambil melangkah."Barangkali Tuhan ada di dalam Salji".

"Barangkali",kata saya,sambil tersenyum didalam gelap.Saya membetulkan beg galas berisi buku di belakang saya

sambil berjalan beremba dengan orang tua itu.Kami melangkahperlahan-lahan di atas salji yang tebal.Dingin mengcengkam.

Sekarang angin di belakang kami tidak perlu membongkok.Salji terus menderu dengan lebat di atas kepala dan

belakang kami.Dan entah mengapa,saya terasa riang dan agak terhibur dengan cakap orang tua mabuk itu.

Tebing jalan tempat kami melangkah itu tebal dengan salji dan kami melangkah perlahan di dalam gelap.Sesekali kereta

menderu di jalan di samping.

"Saudara tidak pernah mencari Tuhan"?tiba-tiba dia bertanya lagi.

"Ada juga sekali sekala",kata saya ,sambil berseloroh dengannya.

"Saya telah lama mencari Tuhan",kata orang tua itu."Sekarang pun saya sedang mencariNya.Barangkali Tuhan ada didalam Salji",

"Barangkali juga ", kata saya"Tetapi kenapa saudara tidak mencari Tuhan didalam gereja?"Saya sebenarnya sudah memutuskan

untuk melayan orang tua mabuk itu dengan cara bergurau.

"Dalam Gereja?"katanya."Tuhan tidak ada di dalam gereja!Yang ada cuma manusia dan patung-patung buatan manusia itu sendiri."Tapi dalam gereja orang bercakap tentang Tuhan",kata saya.

"Oh ,jawabnya,orang tidak boleh bercakap tentang perkara yang mereka tidak tahu".

"Tapi para paderi dalam gereja tetu tahu tentang Tuhan?"kata saya separuh menyoal."

"Tidak", saya bukan orang yang kamu sangkakan",.Saya beragama Islam, sudah lama saya tinggalkan kampung halaman saya".kata orang tua itu pada saya."Maafkan saya saudara,rupa2nya saudara ini orang melayu"?kata saya.....

Orang tua itu hanya mampu menangguk kan kepala tanpa sepatah ayat yang keluar dari mulutnya.lantas dia menyambung bicaranya."Semua paderi itu bercakap tentang tuhan seolah-olah Tuhan itu Manusia.Mereka bercakap tentang tuhan dari taraf

kesedaran yang terlalu rendah.Mereka menganggap Tuhan macam Manusia.Kalau Tuhan macam manusia,Dia Manusia.

Kalau manusia,Dia bukan Tuhan,.Tuhan tidak ada dalam gereja."

Kami berjalan terus.

"Barangkali Tuhan ada dalam "syn-agogue atau masjid?"kata saya."Oh tidak",kata orang tua itu."Tuhan tidak ada dalam synagogue orang yahudi ataupun dalam masjid orang islam.Yang ada cuma manusia dan patung juga".

"Dalam masjid tidak ada patung",kata saya.

"Mana saudara tahu?"

"Saya orang Islam".

"Oh,Namun,saya fikir tuhan tidak ada dalam masjid",katanya.Dia berhenti melangkah.Dia berdiri tegak-tegak,melangutkan mukanya,mengangkat botol arak di tangan kanannya dan melanggah arak dari botol itu.Kemudian dia menyapu bibir dengan belakang tangan bersarung dan mempelawabotol itu kepada saya.Saya menolak engan ucapan terima-kasih.kemudian

dia mula melangkah kembali;dan saya masih mengikutnya lagi."

"Apakah saudara juga orang Melayu yang beragama Islam?"tanyanya tiba2.

"Ya saya orang melayu .yang datang kesini untuk menimba ilmu",kata saya pula."Orang malaysia",kata saya lagi......."Begitu ya......kata orang tua itu.

"Saya juga asal dari Malaysia,tapi sudah lama menetap di sini', katanya lagi.

Orang tua itu bercerita pada saya asal-usulnya,dan perjalanan hidupnya di negara asing ini.

Dia pernah bertemu jodoh dengan gadis disini.Namun isterinya telah pergi meninggalkannya,

bukan untuk selama-lamanya,Akan tetapi mncari kehidupan yang bebas bersama kekasih yang baru.Sambil bercerita

,saya lihat ada lihat ada manik2 jernih menitis dari bebola matanya.

Mungkin hatinya disiat begitu parah sekali,sehingga menyebabkan orang tua itu menangis.

Saya turut bersimpati dengan ceritanya.Lantas dia terus mengakhiri kisah hidupnya disitu saja.

Namun di hati saya masih berserabut dengan seribu persoalan.Ingin terus bertanya,namun saya diamkan saja

tidak mahu hatinya terus diusik memori silam.

'Adakah saudara penuntut disini?"Dia menunjukkan palingan muka ke arah kampus universiti yang lengang di samping sebelah

kanan kami.

"Ya saya belajar disini".

"Tapi tuhan itu tidak ada di Universiti bukan?"

"Ya tuhan tidak ada di universiti.Ilmu pun tidak ada.Yang ada cuma maklumat dan sedikit sebanyak pemikiran."

"Apa yang saudara pelajari di Universiti?"tanyanya.

"Oh sedikit sebanyak sampah".

Dia ketawa.wajah nya cukup manis bila tersenyum dan ketawa.

"Betul tu,"katanya."Orang lebih gemarkan sampah daripada mencari sesuatu yang lebih bermakna.Tugas manusia

ialah mencari Tuhan".

"Adakah saudara pernah mencari Tuhan?'saol saya.

"Tidak,"jawabnya."Sudah lama saya mencari Tuhan merata-rata..Tapi Tuhan tidak ada.Itulah saya terus mencariNya.

Barangkali Tuhan ada di dalam Salji".

"Barangkali Tuhan tidak ada didalam salji",kata saya pula.

"Barangkali juga",katanya.

Kami terus melangkah ke arah jalan washington yang barangkali masih tiga suku batu jauhnya.

Salji terus mencengkam juga.

"Saudara orang Islam kan?' dia bertanya lagi.

"Ya".

"Barangkali Tuhan itu ada di Mecca?'

"Entahlah", kata saya.

"Bukankah Mecca itu tempat suci orang -orang Islam"?

'Ya",

"Barangkali Tuhan itu ada di sana",katanya lagi.

"Entahlah",kata saya.

"Hamzah Fansuri pernah mencari Tuhan di Mekah.kata Hamzah Fansuri,dia tidak menjumpai Tuhan disana."

"Siapakah Phansoory itu?' kata orang tua itu dalam telo orang inggerisnya itu.

"Oh dia ahli fikir bagsa saya.Setengah orang menganggapnya ahli Sufi.Dia hidup dan menulis kira-kira lima enam ratus tahun

yang lalu."

'Apa kata Phansoory tentang Tuhan?'

'Saya tidak ingat dengan pasti."kata saya"Tetapi Hamzah Fansuri pernah pergi mencari Tuhan di Mekah."

'Apakah dia menjumpai Tuhan disana?"

"Tidak."

'Kemudian?'

"Selepas mencari dan tidak menjumpai Tuhan di Mekah,Hamzah Fansuri pulang ke kampungnya".

"Di rumahnya?'

'Ya .Barangkali di rumahnya ada Tuhan.

"Menarik,"kata orangtua itu.'Barangkali saya harus pergi mencari Tuhan di Mecca satu hari nanti".

Kami sampai di sebuah perhentian bas di tepi jalan.Orang tua itu masuk ke bangunan perhentian bas yang

berbumbung dan berdinding kaca itu.Dan saya turut masuk ke perhentian kecil itu.Kami tiba-tiba terlepas dari deruan salji, dan angin dingin yang kencang pun tidaklah begitu terasa.

Orang tua itu duduk di bangku kayu yang basah dengan salji cair,dan saya pun turut duduk.Dia mengangkat

botol,melangut,melanggah arak,mengesat bibir dengan belakang tangan bersarung,dan menghulurkan botol kepada saya.Saya

menolak dengan ucapan terima kasih.

"Barangkali saya harus menunggu bas aja,"katanya.

"Ya'. kata saya."Adakah saudara akan naik bas juga?"

"Tidak rumah saya disana."kata saya sambil menunjuk."Saya akan berjalan pulang,"

"Saudara harus terus mencari-cari didalam salji,"katanya.

"Ya,"kata saya ,sambil tersenyum didalam gelap."Saya akan mencari di dalam perjalanan pulang."

"Siapa tahu,"katanya."Saudara mungkin bernasib baik,"

"Ya ,"Siapa tahu."

Sebentar kemudian sebuah bas menderu datang.Ia berhenti di perhentian.Pintunya yang dikawal secara eletronik

itu terkopak membuka.Orang tua itu bangun perlahan-lahan,keluar dari perhentian,dan melangkah ke tangga bas.

"Selamat Tinggal katanya".

"Selamat jalan,kata saya."Brangkali Tuhan tidak ada di mana-mana,tetapi Dia ada di mana-mana,"

sambung saya tiba-tiba.

Ketika itu saya terlihat botol arak orang tua itu tertinggal,tercegat berdiri dalam samar gelap di atas bangku kayu

di perhentian bas.

Saya berpusing dan berjalan membongkok dengan pantas didalam gelap itu sambil mengenangkan kisah orang tua itu.

Dalam kesayupan meninggalkan orang tua itu.Hati saya benar2 tersentuh.Orang tua itu asalnya di bumiku Malaysia.

Kini telah berhijrah ke kota salji ini.Telah lupa adat dan budaya serta asal usulnya sendiri.

Mencari-cari Tuhan yang tidak juga di temuinya.

Lupa akan bahasa ibunda. tidak tahu lagi ikatan kain pelikat.menyedut rokok daun nipah.bertandang ke rumah saydara mara

.Merahnya sirih bila dikunyah.Menjala ikan di pinggir kali.Kehidupannya kini sama seperti orang kulit putih

di negara salji tebal itu.Arak menjadi teman dan Tuhannya.

"Lantas aku berkata2 sendiri..........

"Tuhan itu tidak perlu dicari hingga ke hujung dunia,"

"Tuhan itu ada di Rumah kita rupa-rupanya.Dia menunggu kita 5 kali sehari,di atas sejadah yang kita bentangkan sewaktu

azan berkumandang.Tuhan itu tidak perlu jauh dicari...hanya ada di rumah dan di hati kita........"





THE END............MENCARI TUHAN DI DALAM SALJI. (1987) PENULIS LINA AZMAN 5 SASTERA.

ERIKA AZMAN

ERIKA AZMAN

JOJOHARI - Salam Mesra Dari Uncle Jo

ABANG HAMID JOHARI - Selamat Pengantin Baru, WHERE ARE YOU ABANG?

ABANG HAMID JOHARI - Selamat Pengantin Baru To All Of You Di Ulu Langat.

ZAINUDIN JOHARI - BONDA & Family Yang Tersayang di Malaysia

PUTERI NAJIHA JOHARI

PUTERI NAJIHA

ERIKA AZMAN

ERIKA AZMAN

Zainudin Johari EduSpace: Project Management : Project Group Names and Team Members

Zainudin Johari EduSpace: Project Management : Project Group Names and Team Members

Melissa Johari

Melissa Johari

Happy Mother's Day Mom, I Love You More Than Ever, always your son.

Happy Mother's Day To My Mother Salmah Johari, May God Be With You Forever Mom

A Child's Angel


Author Unknown

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. So one day she asked God: They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless? Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be waiting for you and will take care of you. But tell me, here in Heaven, I don't do anything else but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy. Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And you will feel your angel's love and be happy. And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I don't know the language that men talk? Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak. And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you? Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray. I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me? Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life. But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore. Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you. At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly: Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name. Your angel's name is of no importance, you will call your angel: Mommy.

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